1948 Joe DiMaggio Signed New York Yankees Contract....

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Sold on Jul 31, 2014 for:

$35,850.00 Bid Source: Live: Phone bidder

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Joltin' Joe leads the American League in homers, RBI's!

1948 Joe DiMaggio Signed New York Yankees Contract. The Yankee Clipper's return to his world class form in 1947, and his essential contributions to the ballclub's World Championship campaign, resulted in a healthy raise for the 1948 season (though increased vitality of the US economy in the years following the war surely played a role as well). DiMaggio would respond to this pay bump with what was arguably the finest season of his career, one in which he clubbed a League-leading and career-best 155 runs batted in with thirty-nine homers (also tops in the A.L.) to earn runner-up to Lou Boudreau in MVP voting.

The presented contract finds "$65,000" handwritten in the blank for player salary on the first page, with DiMaggio consenting to the terms with his 9+/10 black fountain pen autograph on page three. Just above is a handwritten incentive clause, stating "In the event the New York club draws an official paid attendance of 1,600,000 for the 1948 American League Championship season player is to receive an additional $10,000 making a total of $75,000." It is unclear whether DiMaggio would have earned this bonus, because while the paid attendance cleared 2,300,000, the Yanks were not pennant winners this season. Hall of Fame executive George Weiss has signed as the Yankees' representative.

Short of original storage folds, the contract survives in flawless condition. Full LOA from PSA/DNA. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication.

More information about Joe Dimaggio Sports Player.